The burned metal and mangled electronics in these images could belong to the first American aircraft to go down in Syria since the U.S. began airstrikes on ISIS inside the country.

U.S. officials said military controllers lost contact with the MQ-1 Predator drone at around 9.40am GMT yesterday over north-west Syria.

Syrian state media claimed the country's air defence units shot down a U.S. surveillance aircraft in the same area.

Pictures from the alleged crash site show men in military gear posing with the wreckage, a building severely damaged by a possible falling part and electronic hardware belonging to the company that makes the MQ-1.

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Wreckage: New images show what could be the wreckage of the MQ-1 Predator drone that U.S. reported missing over north-west Syria on Tuesday morning

Remnants: Pictures from the site showed men in military fatigues posing next to what is believed to be the crashed drone - after Syrian state media claimed the country's air defences shot it down

Historic: If this wreckage is confirmed to be the MQ-1, it would be the first American aircraft to go down in Syria since the U.S. began airstrikes on ISIS in the country

Evidence: Hardware pictured at the site featured the logo of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc - the company that manufactures the Predator drone

Damge: Images believed to be from the crash site in Latakia, north-west Syria also suggest part of the drone crashed into a residential building

Battle: The coastal city is believed to be a stronghold of President Bashar Al-Assad whose regime is fighting a bitter civil war against rebels and Islamic State militants

Attack: Even though U.S. officials confirmed losing contact with the MQ-1 drone on Tuesday morning, they would not confirm if it was brought down deliberately

The images are thought to be from the coastal city of Latakia - a stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad whose regime is still fighting a bitter civil war against Islamic State militants.

Two charred panels recovered from the crash bear the logo of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc - the company who produce the MQ-1 drone.

The company is a leading manufacturer of both unmanned aircraft, military radars and surveillance systems.

Speaking anonymously, the American official would not say whether it was shot down deliberately but the Pentagon is trying to determine why operators lost control of the drone.